UN Adopts Resolution on Indigenous Peoples' Conference

The UN General Assembly adopted last 17 September the Resolution on the Organization of the High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly, to be known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples [A/66/L.61]. The WCIP will be held on 22-23 September 2014.

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A/66/L.61

Organization of the High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly, to be known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples

The General Assembly,

Recalling the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which addresses the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples,

Recalling further all relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council and the Economic and Social Council relating to the rights of indigenous peoples,

Reaffirming its resolution 65/198 of 21 December 2010 by which it decided to organize a high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly, to be known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, to be held in 2014, in order to share perspectives and best practices on the realization of the rights of indigenous peoples, including to pursue the objectives of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,

Encouraging the participation of indigenous peoples in the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples,

Recalling also its resolution 59/174 of 20 December 2004, by which it proclaimed the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (2004-2014), and recognizing that challenges remain in meeting the goals and objectives of the Second Decade,

Inviting Governments and indigenous peoples to organize international or regional conferences and other thematic events to contribute to the preparation of the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly, to be known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples,

Taking note of the activities related to the World Conference undertaken by the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the engagement of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, in the preparation process of the World Conference,

Encouraging the continued active engagement of indigenous peoples in the preparations of the World Conference, including at the regional and global levels,

1. Decides that the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly, to be known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, will be held on Monday 22 of September and the afternoon of the Tuesday 23 of September 2014;

2. Encourages all Member States to consider being represented in the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples at the Head of State or Government Level;

3. Decides that the organizational arrangements of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples shall be as follows:

a) The World Conference will be composed of two plenary meetings, in the form of an opening and a closing session, three interactive round tables and one informal panel discussion. The opening meeting will start at 9:00 a.m and on the afternoon of Monday 22 of September two round tables will take place simultaneously;

b) The speakers at the opening session will be the President of the General Assembly, Heads of State and Government or High Level Representatives of Member States from each regional group, the Secretary-General, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Chair of the Permanent Forum, three representatives of indigenous peoples who will be proposed by indigenous peoples and subsequently designated by the President of the Assembly after consultations with Member States;

c) The informal round tables and the interactive panel discussion will be chaired by one Member State and one representative of indigenous peoples who will be proposed by indigenous peoples and subsequently designated by the President of the Assembly after consultations with Member States,

d) The Chair of the Permanent Forum, the Chairperson Rapporteur of the Expert Mechanism and the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples should be invited to participate in the interactive panel discussion;

e) The proceedings of the round tables and interactive panel discussion shall be webcast;

f) The co-chairs of the round tables and the panel discussion will present summaries of the discussions at the closing plenary meeting;

g) In order to promote interactive and substantive discussions in the round tables and the interactive panel, participation will include Member States, observers, representatives of entities of the United Nations system, representatives of indigenous peoples, civil society organizations and national human rights institutions;

h) Organizations and institutions of indigenous peoples interested in participating in the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly, to be known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, and whose aims and purposes are in conformity with the spirit, purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, should be invited to submit applications to the Secretariat through an open and transparent accreditation procedure, in accordance with established practice for the accreditation of representatives of organizations and institutions of indigenous peoples, which will provide for the timely comprehensive information on participation of such organizations and institutions of indigenous peoples for consideration by Member States;

i) Requests the President of the General Assembly to draw up a list of representatives of non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council who may participate in the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples;

j) Requests also the President of the General Assembly to draw up a list of representatives of other relevant non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, the academia, national human rights institutions and the private sector who may participate in the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, and to submit the proposed list to Member States for their consideration on a non-objection basis and bring the list to the attention of the General Assembly;

4. Encourages Member States to consider including representatives of indigenous peoples in their delegations to the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples;

5. Encourages participation of indigenous women, youth, elders and persons with disabilities in the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples;

6. Encourages United Nations agencies, funds and programs, and regional commissions of the United Nations, in accordance with their mandates, to actively engage in the process leading to the World Conference;

7. Requests the President of the General Assembly to organize, no later than June 2014, an informal interactive hearing with representatives of indigenous peoples, representatives of entities of the United Nations system, academia, national human rights institutions, parliamentarians, civil society and non-governmental organizations, in accordance with relevant provisions of this resolution, to provide valuable input to the preparatory process for the World Conference;

8. Encourages Member States to actively participate in the interactive hearing to facilitate the best possible interaction and dialogue between Member States and representatives of indigenous peoples as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations, and civil society organizations;

9. Decides that the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly, to be known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, shall result in a concise action oriented outcome document, and requests the President of the General Assembly to prepare a draft text on the basis of consultations with Member States, as well as indigenous peoples, and by taking into account the views emerging from the preparatory process and the informal interactive hearing referred to in paragraph 8 of the present resolution, and to convene an inclusive and open informal process of consultations at an appropriate date in order to provide input for sufficient consideration by Member States and agreement by the General Assembly prior to formal action at the high level meeting;

10. Decides also that the action oriented document of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples should contribute to the realization of the rights of indigenous peoples, pursue the objectives of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and promote the achievement of all internationally agreed development goals;

11. Encourages Member States and Indigenous Peoples to disseminate the results of international, regional or thematic conferences organized by the min preparation of the World Conference, as widely as possible, in order to contribute to its preparation;

12. Requests the President of the General Assembly in consultation with Member States, as well as representatives of Indigenous Peoples, to finalize the organizational arrangements of the World Conference, including the definition of the specific themes for the round tables and the interactive panel, the inclusion of a possible indigenous peoples opening ceremony, taking into account the relevant provisions of this resolution and the inclusive process of discussion for the outcome document of the World Conference and the identification of the Chairs for the round tables and panel discussion taking into account the level of representation as well as adequate geographical representation

13. Decides also to expand the mandate of the United Nations Voluntary Fund forIndigenous Populations so it can assist, in an equitable manner, representatives of indigenous peoples, organizations, institutions and communities to participate in the World Conference, including in the preparatory process, in accordance with relevant rules and regulations;

14. Urges Governments and inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations to continue to contribute to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations, and invites indigenous organizations and private institutions and individuals to do likewise;

15. Encourages Member States, organizations and institutions of indigenous peoples, entities of the United Nations system, private sector, non-governmental organizations, and others to actively support indigenous peoples’ activities and events in preparation for the World Conference as well as to organize side-events and other relevant thematic and cultural activities in New York that would add to the value and visibility of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples;